Red Velvet’s first title track is “Happiness,” which was released on August 4, 2014. This song marked their debut as a group, introducing the original four members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy. “Happiness” is an upbeat Euro-pop track that combines strong synth sounds with African tribal beats, and it was well-received globally, peaking at number four on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.
The song’s success was notable, as it became the first K-pop girl group debut single to chart on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. Additionally, “Happiness” reached number five on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart, showcasing the group’s early popularity in their home country. The music video for “Happiness” gained significant attention, with over two million views in its first 24 hours, although it was later edited due to some controversial imagery.
Overall, “Happiness” set the stage for Red Velvet’s unique blend of “red” and “velvet” concepts, which would become a hallmark of their music style, with “red” representing bright, energetic tracks and “velvet” symbolizing smoother, R&B-influenced sounds. The group’s debut with “Happiness” laid the groundwork for their future success, including the addition of Yeri to the lineup in 2015 and the release of subsequent hits like “Ice Cream Cake” and “Dumb Dumb.”